Brendan Rodgers rues Celtic injury list before Scottish Cup test

Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic have been hit by “bad luck” on the injury front this season but is looking to extend their defence of the William Hill Scottish Cup against Partick Thistle on Saturday.

Dedryck Boyata is set to remain absent and also miss the first leg of the Hoops’ Europa League encounter with Zenit St Petersburg due to the groin injury he suffered against Kilmarnock last weekend.

But fellow central defender Kristoffer Ajer should shake off an Achilles knock to face Thistle alongside Jozo Simunovic, who sat out Celtic’s 1-0 defeat by Killie because of the artificial surface at Rugby Park.

Asked whether Boyata would be fit for the visit of the Russians on February 15, manager Rodgers said: “I don’t think he will be, the medical team are saying it is probably going to be around a couple of weeks.”